Tag: Queens

In a fight between Bill de Blasio's Department of Education and the yeshivas that teach the children of Haredi or Ultra-Orthodox Jews, it might seem like the Department of Education is the 800-pound-giant. The yeshivas are said to give too little attention to English, math, and other secular subjects, if they teach them at all.…

In a surprise, possibly in response to Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposal for a millionaires' tax to pay for improving the subways, Governor Andrew Cuomo suggested to the New York Times he would support a congestion pricing plan. “Congestion pricing is an idea whose time has come,” Mr. Cuomo said. He declined to provide specifics…

Apparently, that's what some Queens Democrats are saying. After Corona/East Elmhurst Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland announced her retirement, her predecessor Hiram Monserrate jumped into the race. Monserrate has only one small, niggling issue: his criminal record. In December 2008, after winning a State Senate seat but before he was sworn in, Monserrate attacked his then-girlfriend, slashing her…

Party Designating petitions were filed at the NYC Board of Elections on Thursday and it is time for my annual report on this year’s likely upcoming Primary contests in the City. Up until now, I’ve posted this report on the Room 8 site but now that no longer exists, Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein at ShakingNews has generously…

If it seems like there's a lot of talk recently about corruption in Queens politics, you're right. In the latest news, Queens City Councilmember Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) is on trial for stealing taxpayer money. He's still running for re-election, though, with the support of the Queens County Democratic Party. Could all this negative news be…

Normally when a politician says they are retiring to spend more time with their family, we're skeptical. But Queens Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland seems to really mean it, describing the anguish of not being able to spend enough time with her husband and son. Though she was widely-seen as a rising star, Ferreras-Copeland says she's putting her…

Immigrants in danger, Bill de Blasio balancing competing demands, Republicans balancing ideological purity while in danger of losing the State Senate, and more. Want to get this as an email every week? Sign up!

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********** Our Feature Will New York Be a Sanctuary for Immigrants? Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatened to take back $4…
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